Newburgh boy's effort to change child labor law gains support

13-yeaer-old wants to ref youth soccer games

Photographs by DENNY SIMMONS / Courier & Press
Matthew Burkart, 13, of Newburgh, Ind., center, hopes one day to be able to referee soccer matches, but a child labor law requiring referees to be at least 14 years old means Burkart has to continue working with his Evansville Soccer Club U13 boys team.

DENNY SIMMONS

Matthew Burkart, 13, runs through warm-up drills with his Evansville Soccer Club U13 team Friday evening.

DENNY SIMMONS

INDIANAPOLIS - A Newburgh boy is working to change Indiana's child labor laws so that he can referee youth soccer games — and his effort is gaining traction.

Thirteen-year-old Matthew Burkart hoped he'd be able to start working his first job a year ago, but Indiana Soccer officials stopped using 12- and 13-year-old referees right before he started because the organization learned it was running afoul of a state law.

"I was super excited about getting this job," Burkart wrote in a letter to lawmakers asking for their help. "I was so close. It was like shooting and hitting the crossbar at the last second. So close, yet so far."

So Burkart — with Indiana Soccer's support — started working to change the law.

Currently, Indiana law prevents children under 14 from being hired — with a few exceptions. Those children can caddie at golf courses, deliver newspapers and work on farms. Burkart wants to add officiating youth sporting events to that list.

"I know child labor can be a terrible thing, but this was my idea, not my dad's, my mom's or anyone in my family. I just want to make some money for myself and save it for college," he wrote to lawmakers.

He lined up a number of public officials, soccer coaches and more who were willing to champion his cause.

And state Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, is carrying a bill on his behalf. The bill passed the Senate Tuesday on a 48-0 vote.

Burkart testified at a state Senate committee hearing on Becker's Senate Bill 153. He brought packets with letters of support from Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Superintendent David Smith and more.

"As a youth, I had a paper route, so I understand completely the pride one has when earning a wage, indeed, this experience did much to shape who I am today," wrote Thomas Kazee, president of the University of Evansville.

Mike Jacobs, the University of Evansville's head men's soccer coach, wrote to Burkart that he and his brother both officiated soccer games as they grew up in New York.

The head coaches of the University of Notre Dame's men's and women's teams also sent letters supporting Burkart.

"Getting youngsters involved in sport, be it as youth coaches or as referees, is a wonderful way to develop responsibility while earning some pocket money, and I think it should be encouraged by society, not forbidden," wrote men's soccer coach Bobby Clark.

Billy Bolin, the Evansville police chief, wrote that the "commitment, leadership and responsibility" skills children learn from opportunities such as officiating youth sports will serve them well moving forward.

"As a father of three boys myself, I understand the critical importance of providing positive opportunities for young children and how such opportunities benefit the entire community," Bolin wrote.

Burkart also brought a petition signed by 139 soccer players, coaches and parents who support his efforts — including Lauren Cheney, a member of the United States women's national team. The bill now heads to the House, where three Southwestern Indiana lawmakers — Rep. Suzanne Crouch, R-Evansville; Rep. Ron Bacon, R-Chandler, and Rep. Gail Riecken, D-Evansville — will serve as its sponsors.